US20240175345A1 - Method of, and a System for, Controlling a Drilling Operation - Google Patents
Method of, and a System for, Controlling a Drilling Operation Download PDFInfo
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- US20240175345A1 US20240175345A1 US18/215,289 US202318215289A US2024175345A1 US 20240175345 A1 US20240175345 A1 US 20240175345A1 US 202318215289 A US202318215289 A US 202318215289A US 2024175345 A1 US2024175345 A1 US 2024175345A1
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- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 100
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 19
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000008672 reprogramming Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 claims 4
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B44/00—Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
- E21B44/02—Automatic control of the tool feed
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B49/00—Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
- E21B49/003—Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells by analysing drilling variables or conditions
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
- E21B7/02—Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport with their own drive, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting
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- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
- G05B13/00—Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion
- G05B13/02—Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion electric
- G05B13/0205—Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion electric not using a model or a simulator of the controlled system
- G05B13/021—Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion electric not using a model or a simulator of the controlled system in which a variable is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
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- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
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- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
A system 10 for controlling a drilling operation by a drill rig 12 includes a receiver 16 for receiving sensed data related to the drilling operation. A processor 18 is in communication with the receiver 16, the processor 18 processing the sensed data to estimate at least one geological property of interest of a zone 20 in which the drill rig 12 is active. The processor 18 is configured to operate as a decision engine 22 to optimize the drilling operation automatically by changing at least one drilling related parameter during the drilling operation based on the at least one geological property of interest.
Description
- This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 17/731,757, which is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 16/932,028 filed Jul. 17, 2020, now U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/352,870, which is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 16/165,151 filed Oct. 19, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,746,012, which is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 14/889,080 filed Nov. 4, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,125,597, which is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/AU2014/000502, filed on May 7, 2014, which claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2013901627 filed on May 8, 2013. The contents of each application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
- This disclosure relates, generally, to controlling a drill rig and, more particularly, to a method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation. The disclosure has particular, but not necessarily exclusive, application in controlling a drill rig for drilling blast holes on a bench in an open cut mine. It will, however, be appreciated that the disclosure could apply to the drilling of exploration holes or to the drilling of an array of holes in a mine face in underground mines.
- At present, automated drill rigs are used whether for autonomously drilling blast holes in a drill bench of an open cut mine or in a mine face of underground mines. However, operator oversight is required to monitor the state of drilling of the drill rig to ensure that the measurement while drilling (MWD) data remains within specification. Reasons for the MWD data falling outside specification include a worn drill bit, an incorrect drill bit for the geological conditions or an incorrect drill bit for the required mode of drilling for the geological conditions.
- Should the operator determine that the MWD data is outside specification, the operator needs to determine if it is preferable to change the drill bit to provide improved efficiency or to continue with the drilling operation with the current drill bit albeit with the MWD data outside specification. The reason for this is that changing a drill bit is a relatively time consuming process and any benefit that may be gained from changing the drill bit may be outweighed by the time taken to do so.
- In one aspect, there is provided a method of controlling a drilling operation by a drill rig, the method including
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- sensing data related to the drilling operation;
- processing the sensed data to estimate at least one geological property of interest of a zone in which the drill rig is active; and
- based on the at least one geological property of interest, automatically optimising the drilling operation by changing at least one drilling related parameter during the drilling operation.
- In this specification, the term “drilling related parameter” is to be understood, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as being a parameter other than those mechanical drill data of the drill rig that provide the sensed data and the “drilling related parameter” includes at least one of a drill bit of a drill string of the drill rig and a drill model for the area to be drilled by the drill rig. Further, the term “automatically” is to be understood, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as being a system decision rather than an operator decision.
- The method may include selecting the data sensed from the group consisting of: mechanical drill data (such as rotation speed, rotation direction, pull down speed, pull down pressure, pull up speed, depth sensor, air pressure, water fluid flow rate, navigation position, rotation pressure, bit pressure, or the like), geophysical data, geochemical data, and any combination of the foregoing.
- The method may include providing the sensed data, via a communications link, to a processor for processing the sensed data to estimate the at least one geological property of interest, the at least one geological property of interest including strata boundaries and metrics related to substrate hardness. The processor may be mounted on the drill rig or, instead, the processor may be located remotely.
- The method may include optimising the drilling operation in respect of at least one specified criterion. The method may include selecting the at least one specified criterion from the group consisting of: maximising rate of penetration of the drill bit or minimising time taken to drill a hole, maximising bit life, maximising the rate of drilling the zone by changing an order in which holes of a drill pattern for the zone are to be drilled, and any of combination of the foregoing.
- The method may include optimising the drilling operation by modifying the operation of the drill rig directly based on the data sensed. In addition, or instead, the method may include optimising the drilling operation by updating a model of the drilling operation based on the data sensed and controlling the drill rig using the updated model.
- Where the at least one drilling related parameter to be changed includes changing the drill bit of the drill rig, the method may include factoring in the time taken to change the drill bit in determining whether or not such an action optimises the drilling operation.
- The method may include changing the drill bit in dependence on a mode of drilling of the drill rig, for example, rotary or percussive drilling, selected to optimise the drilling operation.
- In a second aspect, there is provided a system for controlling a drilling operation by a drill rig, the system including
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- a receiver for receiving sensed data related to the drilling operation;
- a processor in communication with the receiver, the processor processing the sensed data to estimate at least one geological property of interest of a zone in which the drill rig is active; and
- wherein the processor is configured to operate as a decision engine to optimise the drilling operation automatically by changing at least one drilling related parameter during the drilling operation based on the at least one geological property of interest.
- The sensed data may be selected from the group consisting of: mechanical drill data, geophysical data, geochemical data, and any combination of the foregoing.
- The system may include a communications link for providing the sensed data from the receiver to the processor.
- The at least one geological property of interest may include strata boundaries and metrics related to substrate hardness.
- The processor, operating as the decision engine, may be configured to optimise the drilling operation for at least one specified criterion. The at least one specified criterion may be selected from the group consisting of: maximising rate of penetration of the drill bit or minimising time taken to drill a drill hole, maximising bit life, maximising the rate of drilling the zone by changing an order in which holes of a drill pattern for the zone are to be drilled, and any of combination of the foregoing.
- The processor may be configured, where the at least one drilling related parameter to be changed includes changing the drill bit of the drill rig, to factor in the time taken to change the drill bit in determining whether or not such an action optimises the drilling operation.
- The disclosure extends to software that, when installed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method as described above.
- Embodiments of the disclosure are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
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FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a drill rig and a system for controlling a drilling operation carried out by the drill rig; -
FIGS. 2-4 show screenshots of stages in an automated bit changing operation on a drill rig; and -
FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of controlling a drilling operation by a drill rig. - In
FIG. 1 of the drawings,reference numeral 10 generally designates a system for controlling a drilling operation by adrill rig 12. Thesystem 10 includes anoperating system 14 comprising various modules. In particular, theoperating system 14 comprises areceiver 16 for receiving sensed data relating to thedrill rig 12 carrying out the drilling operation. Thereceiver 16 is in communication with aprocessor 18. Theprocessor 18 is operative to process the sensed data to estimate at least one geological property of interest of a zone, such as a mine bench, 20 in which thedrilling rig 12 is active. - The
operating system 14 further includes adecision engine 22, configured as a part of theprocessor 18, but shown as a separate module for description purposes, to optimise the drilling operation by automatically changing at least one drilling related parameter during the drilling operation based on the geological property, or properties, of interest. - The
operating system 14 also includes a geological model of thebench 20 to be drilled which is stored in adatabase 24 and with which theprocessor 18 is in communication. - The
modules operating system 14 are implemented in software and can either form part of acontroller 26 of thedrill rig 12 or may be arranged remotely from thedrill rig 12 communicating with thedrill rig 12 via acommunications link 28, typically a wireless communications link. - While the
system 10 has been developed particularly for use in controlling adrill rig 12 operative on abench 20 of an open cut mine to drill adrill pattern 30 ofblast holes 32 in thebench 20, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thesystem 10 could be used in other applications as well. Those other applications include, for example, drilling of sample or exploration holes in thebench 20, drilling an array of blast holes in a mine face in an underground mine, or the like. For ease of explanation, the disclosure will be described with reference to its application to the drilling ofblast holes 32 in thebench 20. - The
drill rig 12 includes aplatform 34 which supports adrill mast 36. Thedrill mast 36 carries adrill string 38, an operatively lower end of which includes areplaceable drill bit 40. Thedrill mast 36 is pivotally arranged about apivot point 42 on theplatform 34 to pivot to the position shown, for example, inFIGS. 2-4 of the drawings to enable access to be gained to thedrill bit 40 for maintenance and/or replacement purposes. Thedrill rig 12 further includes an autobit changer module 44 carried by theplatform 34 of thedrill rig 12. - Further, the
drill rig 12 includes a sensor pack, indicated schematically at 45 in the drawings, which provides sensed data relating to the status of various mechanical drilling parameters known as Measurement While Drilling (MWD) data and provides the sensed MWD data to thereceiver 16. The MWD data include: rotation speed of thedrill bit 40, rotation direction of thedrill bit 40, pull down speed, pull down pressure, pull up speed, depth, air pressure, water fluid flow rate, rotation pressure, bit pressure, or the like. - In addition, the
drill rig 12 has aposition determining sensor 47, such as a GPS unit, for monitoring and locating the position of thedrill rig 12 on thebench 20. Theposition determining sensor 47 is, in an example, a high precision GPS (HPGPS) unit. - The auto
bit changer module 44 is shown schematically inFIG. 1 of the drawings to be standing proud of theplatform 34. However, this has been illustrated in this way purely for description purposes. In practice, the autobit changer module 44 is housed within theplatform 34 as shown more clearly inFIGS. 2-4 of the drawings. The autobit changer module 44 includes a cover member 46 (FIGS. 3 and 4 ) covering acradle 48. Thecradle 48 comprises a plurality ofreceptacles 50, in each of which adrill bit 40 is receivable. - In the illustrated embodiment, only two drill bits 40.1 and 40.2 (
FIG. 4 ) are shown. It will be appreciated that, if necessary, a greater number ofdrill bits 40 are able to be housed in thecradle 48. - The
cradle 48 is pivotally displaceable on theplatform 34 to pivot into the position shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings to align one of thereceptacles 50 with thedrill string 38 of thedrill rig 12 when themast 36 has been pivoted to expose thedrill bit 40. In this orientation, thedrill bit 40 at the end of thedrill string 38 can be received in thatreceptacle 50 in register with thedrill bit 40 at the end of thedrill string 38. An upstream end of eachreceptacle 50 has a pair ofopposed jaws 52. Thejaws 52 engageopposed flats 54, one of which is shown inFIG. 3 of the drawings, to restrain thedrill bit 40, when received in itsreceptacle 50, against rotation. By counter rotation of thedrill string 38, thedrill bit 40 is disconnected from thedrill string 38. - The
cradle 48 is displaceable laterally relative to the platform in the direction ofarrows 56. Thus, referring toFIG. 4 of the drawings, once the drill bit 40.1 has been disconnected from thedrill string 38, thecradle 48 is displaced laterally relative to thedrill string 38 so that a new drill bit 40.2 to be connected to thedrill string 38 is brought into alignment with the end of thedrill string 38. Rotation of thedrill string 38 relative to the drill bit 40.2 connects the drill bit 40.2 to thedrill string 38 for subsequent use. - The
cradle 48 carries either a plurality ofdrill bits 40 of the same type and/or a plurality of different types ofdrill bits 40. In the former case, when onedrill bit 40 becomes worn, the worn drill bit can be replaced with a new drill bit to improve drilling efficiency. In the latter case, the different types of drill bits cater for strata of different hardness to be drilled in thebench 20 and/or to cater for different drilling modes, such as, for example, rotary drilling versus percussive drilling. For example, the drill bit 40.1 may be suited for rotary drilling operations with the drill bit 40.2 being used for percussive drilling operations. - The auto
bit changer module 44 is configured to operate automatically (as defined) under control of thecontroller 26 of thedrill rig 12. - The
platform 34 is supported on a pair of spacedtracks 58, one of which is shown inFIG. 1 of the drawings. Ajack 60 is arranged at each end of eachtrack 58, thejacks 60 depending from theplatform 34. In use, thejacks 60 are lowered relative to theplatform 34 when a drilling operation is to be effected to raise thetracks 58 off a surface of thebench 30. - The
operating system 14 of thesystem 10 includes auser interface 62. Theuser interface 62 comprises adisplay 64 on which thebench 20 and the position of thedrill rig 12 on thebench 20 is displayed. Theuser interface 62 also includes various inputting devices such as akeyboard 66, other pointing devices (not shown) and/or touch screen facilities on thedisplay 64. Theuser interface 62 receives input from theprocessor 18 of theoperating system 14 as well as, if necessary, from an operator of theoperating system 14. - Referring more particularly to
FIG. 5 of the drawings, a method of controlling operation of thedrill rig 12 is now described in greater detail. - As shown at
step 68, thesensor pack 45 of thedrill rig 12 senses the MWD data which, together with the position information sensed by thesensor 47, are made available to theprocessor 18 via thereceiver 16. In addition, where thedrill rig 12 is equipped with suitable sensors (not shown), geophysical data and geochemical data are also sensed by thesensor pack 45 with the geophysical data and geochemical data being made available to theprocessor 18 via thereceiver 16. - Once the
processor 18 has received the sensed data from thereceiver 16, theprocessor 18 processes the received data to estimate geological properties of interest as shown atstep 70 inFIG. 5 of the drawings. The geological properties of interest include boundaries, more particularly, geological boundaries between strata in the substrate of thebench 20 and metrics proportional to hardness of the substrate being drilled by thedrill rig 12. - Based on the processed data and the estimated geological properties of interest, the
decision engine 22 of theprocessor 18 then determines whether or not the drilling operation being carried out by thedrill rig 12 is able to be optimised by changing at least one drilling related parameter during the drilling operation as shown atstep 72 inFIG. 5 of the drawings. Thedecision engine 22 considers changing at least one of two parameters in determining whether or not the drilling operation is able to be optimised. The first parameter is changing thedrill bit 40 and whether or not doing so would optimise the drilling operation and the second parameter which is considered by thedecision engine 22 is an order in which the blast holes 32 of thedrill pattern 30 are drilled and, whether or not changing the order of drilling the blast holes, based on the geological properties of interest which have been estimated by theprocessor 18, would optimise the drilling operation. - As will be appreciated, it is a time consuming operation to change the
drill bit 40, whether automatically or manually, since thedrill string 38 must be raised out of the hole being drilled, themast 36 pivoted to the position shown inFIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, the autobit changer module 44 activated and thedrill bit 40 replaced. Hence, as shown atstep 74 inFIG. 5 of the drawings, thedecision engine 22 factors into its decision the time taken to change the drill bit on thedrill rig 12 in determining whether or not the drilling operation can be optimised. - If a determination is made that a more efficient drilling operation can be effected by way of changing the
drill bit 40, theoperating system 14 instructs thecontroller 26 to change thedrill bit 40 as shown atstep 76 inFIG. 5 of the drawings. This is an entirely automatic operation without operator intervention. - Once the
drill bit 40 has been changed as shown atstep 76 or a decision has been made by thedecision engine 22 to continue with the drilling operation without replacing thedrill bit 40, the drilling operation continues as shown atstep 78 and, once theentire drill pattern 30 has been drilled in thebench 20, the drilling operation ends as shown atstep 80. - The
system 10 optimises drilling by thedrill rig 12 to maximise a metric or metrics of interest as described above. In one embodiment, thesystem 10 optimises the drilling operation to maximise a rate of penetration of thedrill bit 40 through the substrate of thebench 20 or, in other words, to minimise the time taken to drill ablast hole 32 in thebench 20. This is done by automatically selecting the mostappropriate drill bit 40 for the geological properties of interest of thebench 20 as well as the drilling mode which is optimal for that geology. As indicated above, the geological properties of interest are determined by the MWD data, measured by thesensor pack 45 of thedrill rig 12. - The MWD data are used directly in controlling the
drill rig 12 via theprocessor 18. Instead, the MWD data are loaded into the model contained in thedatabase 24 and the model is updated with the MWD data to be used by theprocessor 18 in controlling operation of thedrill rig 12, as indicated at 82 inFIG. 5 of the drawings. As indicated above, one of the considerations in determining whether or not to change thedrill bit 40 is factoring in the time taken automatically to perform any change of drill bit. - In another embodiment, the
system 10 is operative to optimise the drilling mode and bit selection based on the MWD data from thesensor pack 45 and/or data in the model in thedatabase 24, optionally suitably updated with the MWD data, to maximise drill bit life. - In a further embodiment, the
system 10 is configured to optimise the drilling operation by changing the order in which theholes 32 of thedrill pattern 30 are to be drilled in thebench 20 and burden based on the MWD data from thesensor pack 45 or the model contained in thedatabase 24, optionally suitably updated with the MWD data from thesensor pack 46. This is shown atstep 84 inFIG. 5 of the drawings. As an example, theprocessor 18 may determine that, as a result of the updated model, it would be more efficient to drill all holes in softer strata rather than harder strata first, or vice versa, rather than alternating between hard and soft strata with the associated required bit changes. Conversely, theprocessor 18 may determine that the time taken to change bits may be less than the time taken to tram sequentially to all hole locations in harder or softer strata, as the case may be, and may alter the drilling operation accordingly. - If the
processor 18 determines that the hole order should be altered this is done by reprogramming a tramming program of thedrill rig 12 as shown atstep 86 following which the drilling operation continues as previously described and as shown atstep 78. - In still a further embodiment, the
system 10 is configured to optimise the drilling operation carried out by thedrill rig 12 by a combination of changes, i.e., changing drill bit, drill mode and hole order to optimise drilling of thebench 20. - At present, a
hole pattern 30 is drilled in thebench 20 using an automated drill rig with or without an auto bit changing module. However, an operator is still required to determine whether or not a drill bit should be changed in order to optimise the drilling operation based on MWD data received. Thus, operator intervention is still required. However, with the provision of thesystem 10, the need for operator intervention is obviated and the decision to change at least one drilling related parameter such as changing a drill bit and/or hole order of the pattern, is effected automatically resulting in improved drilling efficiencies and optimisation of the drilling operation. - It will also be appreciated that updating the model with the MWD data results in a more accurate geological model which has benefits in the subsequent charging of the blast holes with the required recipe of explosives. In other words, it enables the desired blast pattern to be achieved to be assessed more accurately and given effect to.
- It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
Claims (17)
1. A system for controlling a drilling operation by a drill rig, said system comprising an operating system in communication with said drill rig via a wireless communications link, wherein said operating system includes:
a database for storing a geological model of a surface mining bench on which a drilling operation is to be performed,
a receiver for receiving sensed data relating to the drilling operation carried out by the drill rig,
a processor in communication with said receiver, said processor operative to process the sensed data to estimate at least one geological property of interest of a zone of the surface mining bench in which the drill rig is active, and
a decision engine for determining automatically, based on said at least one geological property of interest, whether the drilling operation is able to be optimized by changing at least one of: (a) a replaceable drill bit of said drill rig, and (b) a drill model comprising an order in which holes are to be drilled by the drill rig during the drilling operation.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the drilling operation is able to be optimised by changing the replaceable drill bit of said drill rig.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said operating system further includes:
a user interface that includes:
a display for displaying the surface mining bench and a position of said drill rig on said surface mining bench.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said operating system further includes at least one input device for receiving input from an operator, each said input device being selected from the group consisting of: a keyboard, a pointing device, and a touch screen.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the holes to be drilled are selected from the group consisting of: blast holes, sample holes, and exploration holes.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the holes to be drilled are blast holes.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said sensed data relating to the drilling operation are selected from the group consisting of: rotation speed, rotation direction, pull down speed, pull down pressure, pull up speed, depth sensor, air pressure, water fluid flow rate, navigation position, rotation pressure, bit pressure, geophysical data, and geochemical data.
8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the operating system is implemented in software.
9. The system according to claim 1 , in which the processor, operating as the decision engine, is configured to optimise the drilling operation for at least one specified criterion.
10. The system of claim 9 , in which the at least one specified criterion is selected from the group consisting of: maximizing rate of penetration of the drill bit or minimizing time taken to drill a hole, maximizing bit life, maximizing the rate of drilling the zone by changing an order in which holes of a drill pattern for the zone are to be drilled, and any of combination of the foregoing.
11. The system of claim 9 , in which the processor is configured, where the at least one specified criterion includes changing the drill bit of the drill rig, to factor in the time taken to change the drill bit in determining whether or not such an action optimizes the drilling operation.
12. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a drill rig comprising:
a controller for controlling operation of the drill rig;
a platform supporting a drill mast, the drill mast carrying a drill string, wherein an operative lower end of the drill string includes said replaceable drill bit; and
an auto bit changer module having a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle being adapted to receive a drill bit, wherein when activated under control of the controller the auto bit changer module changes the replaceable drill bit on the drill string;
wherein said operating system instructs the controller to operate the drill rig under the optimized drilling operation to maximize at least one metric of interest relating to the drilling operation.
13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein controlling operation of the drill rig includes at least one of:
changing a drill bit of the drill rig;
reprogramming a tramming program of the drill rig; and
changing a hole order of a drill pattern to be drilled.
14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the drill rig further comprises:
a sensor pack for sensing data related to the drilling operation; wherein said drilling operation data is provided to said receiver via said wireless communications link.
15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the drill rig further comprises:
a position determining sensor for sensing position information of the drill rig, wherein said position information is provided to said receiver via said wireless communications link.
16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said position determining sensor is a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit for monitoring and locating the position of the drill rig.
17. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one geological property of interest is selected from the group consisting of strata boundaries and metrics related to substrate hardness.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US18/215,289 US20240175345A1 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2023-06-28 | Method of, and a System for, Controlling a Drilling Operation |
Applications Claiming Priority (8)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2013901627A AU2013901627A0 (en) | 2013-05-08 | A method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation | |
AU2013901627 | 2013-05-08 | ||
PCT/AU2014/000502 WO2014179832A1 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2014-05-07 | A method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
US201514889080A | 2015-11-04 | 2015-11-04 | |
US16/165,151 US10746012B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2018-10-19 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
US16/932,028 US11352870B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2020-07-17 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
US17/731,757 US11732568B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2022-04-28 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
US18/215,289 US20240175345A1 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2023-06-28 | Method of, and a System for, Controlling a Drilling Operation |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/731,757 Continuation US11732568B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2022-04-28 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20240175345A1 true US20240175345A1 (en) | 2024-05-30 |
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US14/889,080 Active 2035-01-15 US10125597B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2014-05-07 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
US16/165,151 Active US10746012B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2018-10-19 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
US16/932,028 Active US11352870B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2020-07-17 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
US17/731,757 Active US11732568B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2022-04-28 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
US18/215,289 Pending US20240175345A1 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2023-06-28 | Method of, and a System for, Controlling a Drilling Operation |
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US14/889,080 Active 2035-01-15 US10125597B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2014-05-07 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
US16/165,151 Active US10746012B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2018-10-19 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
US16/932,028 Active US11352870B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2020-07-17 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
US17/731,757 Active US11732568B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2022-04-28 | Method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
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AU (4) | AU2014262374C1 (en) |
BR (1) | BR112015027816A2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2911270A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014179832A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
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CA2903580C (en) * | 2013-03-05 | 2022-07-05 | Technological Resources Pty Ltd | Estimating material properties |
CA2911270A1 (en) * | 2013-05-08 | 2014-11-13 | Technological Resources Pty Ltd | A method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
CN104727815A (en) * | 2015-03-15 | 2015-06-24 | 河北百冠钻井设备有限公司 | Real-time well drilling formation correction method and device |
CN106126882B (en) * | 2016-06-15 | 2019-01-29 | 中国地质大学(北京) | Element geochemistry data preferred method based on Kendall coefficient of concordance sequence |
CN106250676B (en) * | 2016-07-20 | 2018-08-14 | 中国地质大学(北京) | Element geochemistry survey data preferred method based on information gain-ratio |
CN107506831B (en) * | 2017-08-03 | 2021-03-19 | 中国矿业大学(北京) | Blasting parameter determination method and system |
CN108802802B (en) * | 2018-04-24 | 2019-12-17 | 福建金东矿业股份有限公司 | method for qualitative determination of local area of mineral resource |
CA3090965C (en) | 2018-06-27 | 2022-07-26 | Landmark Graphics Corporation | Drill bit subsystem for automatically updating drill trajectory |
US11661835B2 (en) * | 2019-12-03 | 2023-05-30 | Peck Tech Consulting Ltd. | Systems, apparatuses, and methods for automated control of blasthole drill based on performance monitoring |
US11421521B1 (en) * | 2020-02-12 | 2022-08-23 | Enovate Corp. | Method of optimizing rate of penetration |
CN113585961B (en) * | 2021-07-23 | 2023-10-24 | 江西中恒地下空间科技有限公司 | Automatic piling and bottom expanding method and system based on visualization technology |
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GB8427853D0 (en) * | 1984-11-03 | 1984-12-12 | British Aerospace | Automatic drill bit |
CA2165017C (en) | 1994-12-12 | 2006-07-11 | Macmillan M. Wisler | Drilling system with downhole apparatus for transforming multiple dowhole sensor measurements into parameters of interest and for causing the drilling direction to change in response thereto |
NO325151B1 (en) | 2000-09-29 | 2008-02-11 | Baker Hughes Inc | Method and apparatus for dynamic prediction control when drilling using neural networks |
FI115481B (en) * | 2001-12-03 | 2005-05-13 | Sandvik Tamrock Oy | Arrangement for drilling control |
US6968909B2 (en) * | 2002-03-06 | 2005-11-29 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Realtime control of a drilling system using the output from combination of an earth model and a drilling process model |
EA028514B1 (en) * | 2008-10-14 | 2017-11-30 | Шлюмбергер Текнолоджи Б.В. | System and method for online automation |
EP2698498A1 (en) * | 2012-08-17 | 2014-02-19 | Sandvik Mining and Construction Oy | Method, rock drilling rig and control apparatus |
CA2911270A1 (en) * | 2013-05-08 | 2014-11-13 | Technological Resources Pty Ltd | A method of, and a system for, controlling a drilling operation |
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2014
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- 2014-05-07 BR BR112015027816A patent/BR112015027816A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
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2018
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2020
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2022
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BR112015027816A2 (en) | 2017-08-29 |
US20190048705A1 (en) | 2019-02-14 |
US10746012B2 (en) | 2020-08-18 |
US20220251939A1 (en) | 2022-08-11 |
US20160084061A1 (en) | 2016-03-24 |
AU2018204724C1 (en) | 2021-12-09 |
AU2018204724B2 (en) | 2020-07-09 |
US11352870B2 (en) | 2022-06-07 |
AU2014262374B2 (en) | 2018-04-05 |
AU2020233756B2 (en) | 2022-08-18 |
AU2018204724A1 (en) | 2018-07-19 |
AU2014262374C1 (en) | 2021-09-09 |
AU2022271393B2 (en) | 2024-05-02 |
WO2014179832A1 (en) | 2014-11-13 |
AU2022271393A1 (en) | 2022-12-15 |
US10125597B2 (en) | 2018-11-13 |
US11732568B2 (en) | 2023-08-22 |
AU2020233756A1 (en) | 2020-10-08 |
AU2014262374A1 (en) | 2015-11-12 |
US20200347715A1 (en) | 2020-11-05 |
CA2911270A1 (en) | 2014-11-13 |
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